Work for the Peace and Prosperity of Your City

“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7 NLT

There are cities across the United States and around the world that have a relatively orderly, peaceful, and prosperous land for its residents. You may be saying to yourself, name some because I would like to move there. It is true that many of our cities don’t resemble a place of tranquility. We do live in a fallen world, so we might expect it, but that does not mean there can be no peace and prosperity in the days we live, even if it is only for a period of time.

You and I should be working towards the peace and prosperity of the cities where we live. Christians are the biggest influence in their surrounding communities to make things happen, because we have the biggest influencer supporting us, the Lord God. The first step in being an influencer to bring about change in your city is prayer. The Lord told the captive Israelites as they were carried off to Babylon to do just that. They certainly did not want to be exiled in the heathen city, but the Lord God told them to “work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” (Jer.29:7 nlt) Very simply, God commanded them to pray for their city, a pagan city. As their city prospered, so would they and there would be peace.

You may be living in a pagan city, but the Lord’s command is the same to pray for your city. The second step is to start working towards peace and prosperity. You and a few others may be the only hope your friends and neighbors have of living a peaceful life due to your prayers and working as the Lord leads you. It will not only bring glory and honor to God as He answers your prayers through the welfare of all, but it will open the door to share the gospel of Christ, the only true source of peace in the world.